In the Words of Wellington's Fighting Cocks (Hardback)
The After-action Reports of the Portuguese Army during the Peninsular War 1812–1814
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Pages: 352
Illustrations: 30 black and white illustrations
ISBN: 9781526761682
Published: 26th November 2021
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The literature of the Peninsular War is rich with vivid source material – letters, diaries, memoirs, and dispatches – but most of it was written by British soldiers or by the French and their allies. As a result the history and experience of the Portuguese forces – which by 1812 composed close to half of Wellington’s Army – have been seriously under-represented. That is why this pioneering book, which publishes for the first time in English the after-action reports written by the commanders of Portuguese battalions, regiments and brigades, is so important. For these detailed, graphic firsthand accounts give us a fascinating insight into the vital contribution the Portuguese made to the allied army and shed new light on the struggle against the French in the Iberian Peninsula.
The authors provide an introduction tracing the history of the Portuguese Army prior to the Salamanca campaign of 1812, while tracking its organizational changes and assignment of commanders from 1808 to 1814. They include detailed notes on the after-action reports which set them in the context of each stage of the conflict.
Review as featured in
Strategy Page - The News as History
Full review available at:
https://www.strategypage.com/bookreviews/2327
"This is a sound, workmanlike and interesting volime - and essential reading for those interested in the conflict."
Soldier Magazine, February 2022
"It is THOROUGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone with a serious interest in the Peninsular War."
The Waterloo Association
Robert Burnham having recently published the first volume in the history of the Light Division joins forces with Moisés Gaudêncio to produce this interesting new source of information on the Peninsular War.
Vic Powell - Portsmouth Napoleonic Society
We have a regular and large supply of British sources for the Peninsular conflicts, Bob and Moisés have now added a valuable set of after-action reports written by the commanders of Portuguese battalions, regiments and brigades. The Portuguese army has always been under represented in the histories of the Peninsular. This is a must have for anyone studying the Peninsular War.
Robert Burnham interviewed by Zack White
The Napoleonic Podcast
https://anchor.fm/the-napoleonicist/episodes/Wellingtons-Portuguese-Army-The-Forgotten-Evidence-e1eecco
"If you love getting your hands on original period material -- translated into English -- here's a fantastic resource for Napoleonic warfare. Exceptionally well done."
Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, February 2022
Book review highlight:'THOROUGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone with a serious interest in the Peninsular War.'
Gareth Glover, The Napoleon Series
Full review found here:
https://www.napoleon-series.org/book-reviews/books-on-military-subjects/in-the-words-of-wellingtons-fighting-cocks/
Featured on Army Rumour Service
ARRSE (Army Rumour Service)
In the Words of Wellington's Fighting Cocks: The After-action Reports of the Portuguese Army during the Peninsular War 1812-1814 (Pen & Sword) translates reports from battalion through brigade level to illuminate Portuguese actions over that crucial two years. They also add a history of the Portuguese army in the war before 1812 with organizational and command changes. Fielding a Portuguese army for the wargames table has sometimes teased me when looking for a new project, and this book might tip me over the edge.
Wargaming Illustrated, review by Neil Smith
About Robert Burnham
ROBERT BURNHAM, a retired army officer, has written scores of articles and numerous books on the Napoleonic Wars. He has recently stepped down after twenty-two years as the editor of the Napoleon Series, a fascinating and all-embracing website, the largest of its kind. It is a ‘must’ for anyone interested in the Napoleonic era. It can be accessed at: www.napoleon-series.org
About Moisés Gaudêncio
Moisés Gaudêncio was born in Lorvão, Portugal and was raised very near the Bussaco mountain. He became fascinated by the stories told by his grandparents about the French, who were lost in the mountains and were chased by the peasants, after the battle. This led to his lifelong interest in the subject of the Portuguese role in the Peninsular War. He is a contributor to the Napoleon Series website and published some posts on the cooperative blog Do Douro a Toulouse (http://18131814.blogspot.com/).